The country's economic interest
Admission must serve Switzerland's economic interests and the candidate must have the required personal
qualifications, with pay in line with customary standards.
Swiss employers
Recruit outside the EU and EFTA, we run the procedure
We prepare and follow, for your company, the work permit applications of employees recruited from outside the EU and EFTA, from the first review of the file to the authorities' ruling.
The starting point
Four requirements for recruiting outside the EU and EFTA
A federal quota
The number of permits is capped each year for Switzerland as a whole and allocated among the
cantons.
The priority of the domestic workforce
You must demonstrate that no worker matching the profile sought is available on the Swiss
labour market or on the labour markets of the EU and EFTA.
A heavy administrative file
Cantonal form, economic case, proof of recruitment searches, compliant contract.
Our role
You bring the position and the candidate, we build the file
The firm becomes the point of contact with the authorities on your company's behalf, from the first review to the decision.
- Advising employers on the admission requirements for third-country nationals
- Preparing and filing applications with the cantonal authorities
- Representing the client, company or private individual, in the non-contentious administrative procedure
- Ongoing follow-up of permits, extensions, changes of employer and family reunification
Our services
Four services for recruitment, and a permits and family strand
Feasibility assessment
A first review of the position, the candidate and the canton, concluded with a written summary note.
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Full procedure
We build the file and represent your company until the authorities' decision.
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HR support
Follow-up over time: extensions, changes of employer, family reunification.
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Employer direct line
A direct line for your everyday questions on immigration law.
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Permits and family for your employees
B permit, standard or early C permit, family reunification, residence for the purpose of marriage: you can
entrust us with these steps for an employee and their family.
Learn more
Cross-border worker, student, secondment or intra-group transfer: see also Other residence permits and naturalisation.
The maximum numbers
A federal quota, allocated among the cantons
8,500
permits for 2026
Federal ceiling for skilled workers who are third-country nationals.
4500
residence permits
B permits, for the whole of Switzerland, for the year 2026.
4000
short-term permits
L permits, for the whole of Switzerland, for the year 2026.
Sectors
Sectors with different constraints
The sector shapes the argument. The legal requirements remain the same.
- Engineering / innovation
- IT specialists
- Intra-group transfers / posted workers
- Graduates of a Swiss higher education institution
- Research / academic positions
- Healthcare
- Education
- Speciality chefs
The process
Five steps, from vacant position to first day at work
-
01 You
You identify the position and the candidate
The position to be filled, its requirements and the person you have in mind. -
02 The firm
Feasibility assessment
Review of the applicable legal requirements and an appraisal of the file's chances. -
03 You and the firm
Building the file
Gathering the documents, proof of the searches carried out on the Swiss and European markets, economic case. -
04 The authorities
Cantonal decision, then federal approval where required
The cantonal labour market authority issues its preliminary decision; the SEM approves certain files. -
05 You
The employee starts work
The cantonal residence permit authority issues the documents that allow employment to begin.
The scope
What we do not do
- Recruitment and staff leasing: these activities are reserved for companies licensed under the Federal Act on Employment Services and the Hiring of Services
- Court representation: we are not a law firm and we do not litigate
- Promising a permit: the decision always rests with the authorities, never with the adviser
- Finding candidates: you choose the person, we prepare and follow up their application for admission
The first step
Start by finding out where you stand
The feasibility assessment examines your position, your candidate and your canton, then assesses the file.
The decision to grant a permit rests with the cantonal and federal authorities.
